Alcohol and Ogre-girls ch34

p2
>Heh~.
>So you're Naori, huh?

>I've been waiting for you.
>Welcome.

>The heck?
>Don't act so big when you're just a part-timer.

>Shut up!
>>sting...

>Naori, sorry for calling you over so suddenly!
>Sting?

p3
>This guy is Watanabe Tsukasa.
>We've been inseperable since we were kids.
>Nice to meetcha!

>You probably haven't seen me around since I rarely show up to lecutres~
>but I'm technically a 2nd year at Keiei U too, okay? We're the same age!
>Let's be friends!
>>Overwhelming friendliness
>Uuh...
>Hah...
>This guy's cringiness reminds me when I first met Hinata-san...

>Wait. Watanabe? Don't tell me...
>Watanabe...

>Yep.
>Watanabe.
>A human being who knows Hinata is an ogre.

>Have you perhaps heard a little about me?

p4
>You met that squirt over there, didn't you?
>Ah...!

>Yo, Isuzu.
>Eh? Isuzu as in... Sakata-san!?
>Sakata-san!
>You followed me!?

>D-Did you say H-Hinata!? D-D-D-Don't tell me you're...
>the next Shuten-doji...!?
>It's my first time seeing her up this close...!

>Naori, you know Sakata's descendant? Since when!?
>Ah, she happened to save me from a monster attack on my way back from college...

p5
>You were attacked!? By a monster!? A-Are you hurt!? Isuzu saved you!?
>What's going on here!?
>Well...
>There's a lot to unpack.

>D-Don't say my name so frivilously, you lowly ogre!
>I'll slay you!

>...
>...Go ahead and try if you think you can.

>...!

>...

>Hahahaha!
>Don't be so harsh~

p6
>This is where I work part-time.
>The manager says I can use it how I like before open hours.

>I happened to run into Hinata for the first time in ages and wanted to treat her, but she refuses to drink any alcohol that isn't yours,
>so I could have you drink it instead and called you over.

>For now, come on over and make Hinata a drink.

>And don't you look so glum over there. I'll make you something non-alcoholic.
>!

>What are you saying!?
>A Sakata warrior sharing a cup with an ogre...?
>Ah, let's have none of that talk.

>Since you're here and all,
>why don't you just take a seat?

p7
>I wanna have a drink

>with the ogre's bartender over there.

p8
>Here you go.
>Two Orange Blossoms.

>Wah!
>Looks delicious~
>...

>Is my one... really non-alcoholic...?
>Of course!

>I made your one with non-alcoholic gin, Iszuz.
>Doesn't the appearance get you excited?

>Non-alcoholic cocktails that are made to look like the real thing are known as "mocktails".
>>mock (makeshift) + cocktail = mocktail

p9
>This is what you made during your flare bartending just now, right?
>Yep! A gin and tonic.
>Are you really okay with this? It takes a little time to drink...
>Yeah.
>You made it for me, so I don't want to waste it.
>Flare bartending...?

>It's a style where the bartender makes cocktails while putting on an acrobatic performance with the bottles, shakers and glasses.
>It's showy and gets people excited.
>Not that I can do it at all...

>I'm still practising myself.
>The manager gets upset when I break the shochu glasses.
>Now then! Let's have a toast.

>Cheers.

>...

>There's no way I'll be able to savor a drink shared with an ogre...

p10
>Yep!
>This Orange Blossom has a glorious harmony between the botanical flavor and the acidity of the orange.
>It's good!

>Same with this gin and tonic... The bittersweet taste of the tonic is dry yet gentle.

>Yummy!!

>...Welp,
>looks like we've got a chugger here.

>Phwah!

p11
>...Mm.

>...Is that a "it was good" look I see on your face?
>Th-There's nothing on my face!

>Hah! It's seriously yummy!
>Thank you very much.
>I appreciate the honesty.

>...I hate these flashy drinks!
>The flavors are too complex.... What's this bitterness deep inside the orange juice?
>Juniper berries. It's a herb used as an ingredient in gin.

p12
>I love the taste of gin. The very first cocktail I drank was a gin and tonic.
>It has a flexible base that's used in all kinds of cocktails, and the showy fragrance of the herbs is unique.

>...
>Watanabe-san... I thought we was just a big show off at first, but...

>Say, Naori. You understand the charm of gin, right?
>Heh? Y-Yeah...
>Hinata told me that your gramps was a bartender?

>Since you make cocktails too, do you wanna open a bar in the future?
>Eh...?

>W-Well, I sometimes think... about having my own store someday...
>Ooh!
>Eh!?

>Hey, wait!? You should tell me those important dream topics when we're alone!
>It's not that important...
>Sounds nice~ I hope you'll hire me as staff when you do~

p13
>...What are you saying?
>You're going to become an ogre slayer, Tsukasa-san.

>You're the heir of the family of the strongest of Yorimitsu's Heavenly Four Lords...
>the Watanabe family.

>You'll have to someday succeed your family and display your power against monsters.

>You used to teach me fencing before too...

>Tsukasa-nii-san.
>What are you doing in a place like this?

p14
>Hmm...
>Having a grace period?

>Wha...!?
>You're doing something so foolish!?
>It is not~ Grace periods are very important.
>You're dodging the question again!

>You're always like this, Tsukasa-nii-san...
>Eh~...?

>S-So, Naori! What were you up to before running into Isuzu?
>>Desperate to change the subject
>I thought you didn't have that many lectures today?

>Ah, about that...
>Please help with the campus festival~
>!

p15
>Ah.
>That reminds me...

>Eh!?

>A cocktail based on a musical!?
>You're making one!? For the campus festival!?
>That's amazing!

p16
>So like...
>Does that mean I'll get have lots of samples of an original cocktail...!?
>She... She grew horns...!!

>...I'm thinking of one right now, but

>would you be willing... to help out at the campus festival too, Watanabe-san?
>Eh!?

p17
>A-Are you sure!?
>I'll of course have to check with everyone in the Myusearch Society first...
>but this is my first time doing something like this, so having someone with your cocktail expertise would be really helpful...

>...
>...I wanna help!
>Please let me!

>Sorry for asking this so suddenly when we've only just met...
>It's fine! I'd be honored! I really wanna do it!

>Hey, Naori, can I help out too?
>...
>Of course. That was the plan.

p18
>What are they saying...? There's no way an ogre can do sales without the supervision of a head from one of the four families...
>But I'm no match for the next Shuten-doji at my level... I'd better take my leave...

>Oh yeah!
>Wah.

>How about we have this girl help with the college festival too? She's from the affiliated high school, so it shouldn't be a problem, right?

>Heh?

>Huh!?
>That's just nonsense, Tsukasa-nii-san!
>Since you're a Sakata warrior, Isuzu, this is a perfect chance to get to know Hinata!
>And by the time the campus festival is over...

p19
>I'm sure we'll be a great team!

>No...

p20
>Are you sure about that!?